ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

 

SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES AND HOUSE MILITARY AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE

 

Minutes of the Meeting

Thursday, October 20, 2011

1:30 p.m., SHR 1

 

 

Members Present:

Senator Linda Gray, Co-Chair

Representative Terri Proud, Co-Chair

Senator Nancy Barto

Representative Jeff Dial

Senator Rich Crandall

Representative Ruben Gallego

Senator Leah Landrum Taylor

Representative Albert Hale

Senator Linda Lopez

Representative David Burnell Smith

 

 

Staff:

Amber O'Dell, Senate Research Analyst

 

Justin Riches, House Research Analyst

 

 

 

Chairman Gray called the meeting to order at 2:07 p.m. and attendance was noted.

 

Sunset Audit of the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA)

 

Brian R. Salata, Executive Director, AATA, distributed "Arizona Automobile Theft Authority Supplemental Materials" (Attachment A) and gave an overview of the Authority, its accomplishments and goals.  He explained situations in which the AATA provides training and equipment to other departments.

 

Public Testimony

 

David Childers, Farmers Insurance, testified in support of continuing the AATA.

 

Steve Conrad, Police Chief, Glendale Police Department, testified in support of continuing the AATA.

 

Senator Gray noted the individuals who registered their position on the items on the agenda (Attachment B).

 

 

 

 

 

Recommendations by the Committee of Reference (COR)

 

Senator Crandall moved that the Committee of Reference make the recommendation to continue the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority for ten years.  The motion CARRIED by a voice vote.

 

Sunset Audit of the Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety (DFBLS)

 

Jeremy Weber, Performance Audit Manager, Office of the Auditor General (OAG), distributed the OAG report on DFBLS (Attachment C) and a hard copy of the Powerpoint presentation "Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety – Performance Audit and Sunset Review" (Attachment D).  Mr. Weber explained the findings of the performance audit and sunset review, the OAG's recommendations, and the department's implementation of the recommendations.

 

Gene Palma, Director, DFBLS, discussed the department's response to the OAG's recommendations.  He explained the actions being taken to bring the department into compliance with rules and regulations. 

 

Recommendations by the Committee of Reference (COR)

 

Representative Proud moved that the Committee of Reference make the recommendation to continue the Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety for two years.  The motion CARRIED by a voice vote.

 

Sunset Audit of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC)

 

The Auditor General's Office distributed ADJC Report No. 09-02 (Attachment E), ADJC Report No. 09-09 (Attachment F) and ADJC Report No. 09-10 (Attachment G).

 

Charles Flanagan, Director, ADJC, distributed "Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections Department Overview" (Attachment H) and gave an overview of ADJC.  Mr. Flanagan discussed the OAG's findings and recommendations.  He answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Dr. Ralph Jones, ADJC, answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Dr. John Vivian, Ph.D, Research & Development Administrator, answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Recommendations by the Committee of Reference (COR)

 

Senator Crandall moved that the Committee of Reference make the recommendation to continue the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections for ten years.  The motion CARRIED by a voice vote.

 

Sunset Audit of the Department of Public Safety (DPS)

 

Dot Reinhard, Performance Audit Manager, OAG, distributed ADPS Report No.     11-01 (Attachment I) and a hard copy of the Powerpoint presentation "Department of Public Safety (Attachment J).  Ms. Reinhard discussed OAG's findings, recommendations and the department's implementation of the recommendations.

 

Robert Halliday, Director, DPS, discussed the OAG report, findings and recommendations.  He explained the department's implementations of the report's recommendations.  Mr. Halliday discussed the impacts of budget cuts and cooperation with other entities.

 

Jeff King, Captain, DPS, discussed national recognition the department received and answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Jeff Raynor, Assistant Director, Technical Services Division, discussed communication problems and answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Public Testimony

 

Mike Durham, 2nd Spoken Voice, discussed his concerns with DPS.

 

Recommendations by the Committee of Reference (COR)

 

Senator Crandall moved the Committee of Reference make the recommendation to continue the Arizona Department of Public Safety for ten years.  The motion CARRIED by voice vote.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:44 p.m.

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                                    Shelley Ponce

                                                                                    Committee Secretary

 

(Audio recordings and attachments are on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov)

 

 

 

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SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES

AND HOUSE MILITARY AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC

 SAFETY COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE

October 20, 2011

Page 1

 

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